By all accounts, Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis was a writer’s writer. He was a British literary scholar who penned fiction and non-fiction along with many, many assorted pieces. Think Chronicles of Narnia (Lion, Witch, Wardrobe) and Miracles. When C.S. Lewis died in 1963, he was famous world-wide as a brilliant man and a decent one, too.
Recently, I was Facebook scrolling and an image popped up in my feed. It was a copy of short letter Lewis wrote on 14 December 1959 to a schoolgirl in America whose teacher contacted Lewis asking him to give writing advice to her student. Here’s the image:
I read this four times to let the simplicity, yet depth, of his words to sink in—the timeless writing advice from a true master. While several of his 1959 points are modified by sixty-six years of technological advances (replace radio with smartphone, but don’t dismiss the hushed computer keyboard as a clackity-clack mechanical typewriter).
The main points C.S. Lewis sets forth are eternal. Read decent stuff… filter crap. Avoid distraction. Use the ear. Evoke personal interest and imagination. Be clear. Bake the manuscript. Get in the zone; the flow. And know the meaning (or meanings) of every word you use.
Kill Zoners — What timeless writing advice can you give to today’s schoolgirl in America?
BTW, visit the S.S. Lewis official website for a complete catalog of his works.
A recent tweet, an example of writing according to (3), and (4), as well:
“Just as dreams and poetry can promote self-revelation in treatment, the creation of art has therapeutic value for the therapist.” Almost every consonant is one of a pair, balanced for alliteration. Minor instances of assonance are present, as well.
Good morning, JGA. Interesting comment. You’re miles ahead of me in this department 🙂
Thanks, Garry, for sharing this wisdom that’s stood the test of time. In today’s distracted world, touchstones like this are even more important.
To today’s schoolgirt or boy: Don’t give up. Persistence carries you farther than talent.
Hi Debbie. Not sure if my reply will post. WordPress seems to have me blocked for some reason. Same thing happened the last time I posted an article on TKZ. Yes, persistence… beats resistence. I think that line comes from Steven Pressfield in “The War of Art”.
What great advice so generously given to this young schoolgirl. For me personally, the best advice I received was put your butt in the chair, fingers on the keyboard. In other words, write. Do the work. Don’t expect it to magically happen. It’s not about inspiration, so much as perspiration. So many people say to me, I always wanted to write a novel. The difference between them and me is that I did it. And then did it again and again and again. Even with two kids in middle school and a full-time job, for years. Early in the morning and late at night, weekends, over my lunch hour. That’s where the “magic” happens.
Hi Kelly. That’s some of the best writing advice ever. I checked out your webiste. You are a very accomplished author, m’lady!
Love this, Garry.
Lewis is one of my favorite writers. This letter is chock-full of timely advice for young writers for sure.
But also for us oldsters. I’d echo Debbie’s advice: Don’t give up. And it needs to echo in my mind also. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this, Sir, and have a great day!
What wonderful and practical advice! I especially liked #5. It’s so easy to forget that the reader is coming at the story from a different perspective than the author.
My advice would be to know there is great power in words, but writing is hard work. Respect the gift you’ve been given, and never give up.
The advice I always give. Write because you love to write, and tell stories that insist on being told. Maybe, one day, you will be published; maybe, not. Either way, if there’s no joy on the journey, there’s no joy in the destination.
What lovely, useful advice, Garry. The only thing that I would add is: “A writer writes.” It’s much more fun to talk about writing than to go alone to your computer and work.
On of my favorite sayings that I cross stitched and hung over my desk is “Success is that place in the road where preparation and opportunity meet. But too few people recognize it because too often it comes disguised as hard work.”